Chain link separator

ABSTRACT

A DEVICE FOR SEPARATING LINKS OF A CHAIN OF THE TYPE HAVING SEPARABLE LINKS FORMED OF FLAT METAL. THE DEVICE HAS HOLDERS OR JAWS INTO WHICH THE LINKS FIT AND IN WHICH THEY ARE HELD. SCREW MEANS IS USED TO FORCE THE HOLDERS TO MOVE THE ONE LINK RELATIVE TO THE OTHER TO CAUSE SEPARATION. RE-ASSEMBLY IS POSSIBLE BY REVERSING THE POSITION OF THE LINKS.

Jan. 12,1971 I HDWEQM; 3,553,818

CHAIN LINK SEPARATOR Filed Sent. 27, 196B Horol on 1 v NT Byf 9753/3:

IS ATT'Y.

3,553,818 CHAIN LINK SEPARATOR Harold D. Wenaas, Garretson, S. Dak. 57030 Filed Sept. 27, 1968, Ser. No. 763,160 Int. Cl. B23p 19/04 US. Cl. 29-256 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for separating links of a chain of the type having separable links formed of that metal. The device has holders or jaws into which the links fit and in which they are held. Screw means is used to force the holders to move the one link relative to the other to cause sep a-ration. Re-assembly is possible by reversing the position of the links.

This invention pertains to devices to separate links of a separable-link chain, and more particularly to an easily portable device adapted to use the mechanical advantage of a screw thread to apply the [force to cause the separation.

In many applications, particularly on farm equipment, a certain type of chain having separable links is commonly used. Links can be inserted for repair or for lengthening the chain, or removed for shortening the chain. However, considerable force is necessary to separate the links. Also, one link must be held carefully in a certain position relative to the other in order for the separation to be etfected.

Prior devices have been proposed to separate these links. Most of them were too heavy and clumsy to be readily portable, or required heavy impact to produce the necessary force.

By my device I provide a readily portable device, operated by tools commonly carried in a tool box so that it can be used in the field as well as in 93, machine shop.

A more complete understanding of my invention in its embodiment may be had from a study of the following specification and the figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of my device with the jaws separated to allow insertion of the chain.

FIG. 2 is an edge view of the chain of the type to be separated.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the chain.

FIG. 4 is an end view of my device with the chain in lace. P FIG. 5 is an edge view, to a reduced scale of one of the jaw pieces of my device.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the jaws partially closed.

Briefly my invention comprises a tool for separating links of a fiat link chain. The tool consists essentially of two jaws adapted each to hold one link of the chain, and screw means to apply force to the jaws to cause them to separate the links.

More specifically, and referring to the drawings, my tool is adapted to be used with a flat chain of the type illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. This chain is composed of fiat links 10 each having a tongue 11 stamped out of a central opening 12. The tongue is curled back to form a loop with the remaining part 13 of the link. This formation leaves a narrow slot 14 between ends of the tongue 11 and the part 13.

The other end of the link is also stamped to form a somewhat distorted Y shape between a short tongue 16 also stamped out of the opening 12 and the end 17 0pposite the part 13. The end 17 may also be somewhat shaped, as shown, to provide smoother movement between the chain links.

It will be evident that the links may be assembled or United States Patent 0 3,553,818 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 separated by sliding one relative to the other sothat the part of one link next to the Y shape is slid through the slot 14. This slot is customarily closed fairly tightly so that this sliding requires considerable force, or else requires forcible opening of the slot.

My device makes possible the assembly and disassembly of the links quite easily. The device consists of two jaws of similar but slightly differing formation. The first or shorter jaw 20 consists of a flat plate 21 having a barrel 22 formed on one edge to receive :a bolt 23. The barrel is somewhat shorter than the plate for reasons to appear hereinafter. On the plate 21 is mounted an abutment member 24 which :forms a shoulder 25 with the plate. A holding finger 26 is fixed onto the member 24 so that it extends over the plate somewhat, parallel to the bolt 23, but spaced apart slightly .from the plate so that the fiat part 10 of the link can be inserted between the finger 26 and the plate 21.

The longer jaw 30 is somewhat like the shorter jaw 20 in that it is formed from a plate 31, although that plate is longer than the plate 21. The jaw also has a barrel 32 to receive the bolt 23, although the barrel is located at an extreme end of the plate. An abutment member 33 and finger 34, similar to these members 24 and 25 on the shorter member, are also provided. These form a shoulder 35 on the longer member. As best shown in FIG. 1 the barrels 22 and 32 are proportioned, and the shoulders 25 and 35 are positioned so that when the barrels meet each other, the shoulders are approximately in line with each other.

In use, to separate two links, the device is opened as shown in FIG. 1, the links are placed between the finger 26 and plate 21 of the shorter jaw 20, so that the loop 11 is adjacent the bolt 23. The longer jaw 30 is then moved over the link to be removed so that it is embraced between the plate 31 and finger 34. This closing action is continued until one edge of each link is pressed against either the shoulder 25 on the shorter jaw or the shoulder 35 on the longer jaw. At this point a nut 40' having a washer 41 is tightened against the barrel 32 pulling the head 42 on the bolt 23 against the barrel 22.

It the jaws are now moved to the position shown in FIG. 4, the edge of one link 10 will be positioned adjacent the slot 14 in the other. Further force will then cause the link to move through the slot until the two separate.

Assembly of two links will now be obvious to those skilled in the art. It will simply consist in pushing one link into the slot in the adjacent link by means of the force applied through the screw threaded mechanism.

Having thus described my invention in its embodiment, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as limited only by the following claims:

I claim:

1. A chain link separating device comprising screw threaded means; a pair of jaw means held by said screw threaded means; at least one of said jaw means being slidably disposed on said screw threaded means; at least one of said jaw means having a chain engaging portion extending in parallel, side by side jusxtaposition to the other of said jaw means; said jaw means being formed to engage individual links of said chain transversely of said links whereby force transmitted by said screw threaded means to said jaws causes said links to move relative to one another.

2. The device of claim 1 in which each of said jaw means includes a barrel portion surrounding said threaded means said threaded means having a head afiixed to the threaded part and a nut threadably disposed on the threaded part, said barrel portions being engageable between said head and said nut, and adapted to be moved together thereby.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said jaw means each includes a shoulder adapted to engage an edge of said links to apply force thereto.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said shoulder is formed by an abutment means on each jaw means and finger means extending from said abutment means to at least partially embrace said individual link.

5. The device of claim 2 in which said jaw means each also includes a plate extending from said barrel, abutment means afiixed to each plate, forming a shoulder therewith, and finger means fixed to said abutment means and adapted to at least partially embrace said individual link.

6. The device of claim 5 in which one plate is relatively shorter than the other, thereby forming one shorter jaw and one longer jaw, said barrel and said abutment memibers being disposed on said plates so that when said barrel members are in end-to-end contact with each other, said abutment members are substantially aligned.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner G. F. GRAFEL, Assistant Examiner 

